JPH09113968A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a shadow in a horizontal direction from being formed even in the case where photographing with strobe light is executed by holding a camera in either the horizontal direction or a vertical direction. SOLUTION: A light emitting device 10 is held to freely rotate with respect to a camera body 30. The device 10 includes a stroboscope internally and emits the strobe light from a stroboscopic lens 8. In the case of holding the camera 1 in the horizontal direction, the device 10 is positioned so that the lens 8 may be positioned at an upper part. In the case of holding the camera 1 in the vertical direction, the device 10 is rotated in a right direction by 90 deg. and positioned so that the lens 8 may be positioned at the upper part. Since a subject is illuminated with the strobe light from above, the shadow in the horizontal direction is prevented from being formed in advance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a camera provided with a light emitting device such as a strobe.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a subject is photographed using a camera,
Not only do you hold the camera horizontally to shoot the subject,
Depending on the position and size of the subject, the camera may be held vertically to photograph the subject. If the subject is dark, flash photography is generally performed.

The strobe is generally located above the camera, and illuminates the subject from above when the subject is held with the camera held in the lateral direction. Therefore, when the subject is photographed with the camera held vertically, the subject is illuminated from the horizontal direction.

When an object is photographed by illuminating the subject from the lateral direction using a strobe, a shadow is produced in the lateral direction. When a shadow is formed in the lateral direction, shading may appear remarkably when a subject is imaged using an electronic still camera or the like having a solid-state electronic image pickup device such as a CCD as an image pickup unit.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention prevents shadows generated when a subject is illuminated by a light emitting device such as a strobe, regardless of whether the camera is held vertically or horizontally. The purpose is to reduce the influence from the reproduced image.

A camera according to a first aspect of the present invention is a camera body including an image pickup section for picking up an image of a subject and recording the image of the subject, which is an image pickup unit having different lengths in the horizontal and vertical directions. The illumination device, which is freely attached and illuminates the subject, and the illumination device illuminates the subject from at least one of the upper side and the lower side regardless of whether the camera body is held in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. As described above, the lighting device is provided with a positioning mechanism for positioning the lighting device at a position corresponding to an upper front portion, a lower front portion, or a lateral side portion of the camera body.

According to the first invention, the illumination device is rotatably attached to the camera body. The illuminating device can be positioned at a position corresponding to the front upper part, the front lower part, or the front side part of the camera body by the positioning mechanism.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the camera body is held in both the horizontal and vertical directions,
Since the illumination device is positioned so that the illumination device illuminates the subject from at least one of the upper side and the lower side, it is possible to prevent a shadow of the subject from occurring in the lateral direction. Even if the image pickup unit is a solid-state electronic image pickup device such as a CCD, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of shading.

The camera according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided in the camera body, which is an image pickup unit having different lengths in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and which includes an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and recording the subject image. The front upper part or the front lower part and the front side part of the camera body so that the subject is illuminated from at least one of the upper side and the lower side when the camera body is held in either the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. And a light emission control means for causing one of the illumination devices positioned in the upper front part, the lower front part, and the front side part of the camera body to emit light in response to a command. It is characterized by having.

According to the second aspect of the invention, even when the camera body is held in both the horizontal and vertical directions,
Since the lighting device is positioned so as to illuminate the subject from at least one of the upper side and the lower side, it is possible to prevent the shadow of the subject from being generated in the lateral direction. When the image pickup unit is a solid-state electronic image pickup device such as a CCD, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of shading.

The illuminating device positioned at the front upper portion, the front lower portion and the front side portion may be detachable from the camera body.

A detection means for detecting whether the camera body is held horizontally or vertically is provided, and the light emission control means is arranged so that the camera body is held horizontally by the detection means. In response to detecting that the camera body is held vertically, the lighting device positioned in the upper part of the front surface or the lower part of the front surface emits light, and in response to detecting that the camera body is held vertically. Then, the lighting device positioned on the front side portion may emit light.

As a result, the optimum lighting device can be automatically made to emit light.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 (A) shows the state of the camera when shooting a subject with the camera held horizontally, and Fig. 1 (B) shows the state of the camera when shooting the subject with the camera held vertically. Shows.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG.
FIG. 3 (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 1 (A),
FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line III B-III B in FIG. 1B.

The camera 1 according to this embodiment includes a camera body.
It is composed of 30, a light emitting device 10, and a mirror body 20. The mirror body 20 is fixed to the camera body 30. The light emitting device 10 is
The camera body (30) is rotatably held by the camera body (30) with the center of the mirror body (20) as the center of rotation.

In FIG. 1A, the upper part of the light emitting device 10 is
The strobe lens 8 included in the light emitting device 10 for diffusing the light of the strobe 7 is exposed. The mirror body 20 is provided with an image pickup lens 22 for forming a subject image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 5. A shutter release button 3 is provided on the side of the upper surface of the camera body 30.

Mainly referring to FIG. 2, a front plate 33 is formed on the front surface of the camera body 30. There is an opening in the center of the front plate 33.
32 are formed.

A fixed plate 36 is provided inside the camera body 30. The plate is passed through the opening 32 on the surface on one side of the fixing plate 36.
20 has been fixed. The CCD 5 provided on the substrate 6 is fixed to the other surface of the fixing plate 36. An opening 36A is formed in the fixed plate 36. The light condensed by the imaging lens 22 of the mirror body 20 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 5 through the opening 36A.

A positioning plate 34 is fixed to the fixed plate 36 so as to surround the mirror body 20 when viewed from the front. The positioning plate 34 includes a light emitting device on the right side above and toward the camera body 30.
Ten positioning recesses 35A and 35B are formed. The positioning plate 34 further has a stopper 37A at one end,
The stoppers 37B respectively project at the other end. The stoppers 37A and 37B are for restricting the rotation of the light emitting device 10, respectively.

An opening 14 is formed at a substantially central portion of the light emitting device 10. A mirror body 20 passes through the opening 14.

The rear portion of the light emitting device 10 is formed with a disc 18 for positioning, which projects outward from the inner wall of the opening 14. A recess 13 is formed between the positioning disc 18 and the rear plate 11 of the light emitting device 10. In this recess 13, the camera body
There are 30 front plates 33 inside. As a result, the light emitting device 10 is held by the camera body 30. A part of the positioning disk 18 is further formed with a fan-shaped protruding portion 12 protruding outward. The protrusion 12 is formed with a protrusion 17 protruding from the light emitting device 10 toward the camera body 30. The convex portion 17 is a concave portion 35A or 35 formed on the positioning plate 34 of the camera body 30.
Enter B. The light emitting device 10 is positioned with respect to the camera body 30 by engaging the convex portion 17 and the concave portion 35A or 35B.

An opening 9 is formed in the upper portion of the front surface of the light emitting device 10. The strobe lens 8 is fitted in the opening 9. The strobe 7 is fixed in the light emitting device 10 at a position corresponding to the opening 9. Strobe 7 is the camera body
The light emission is controlled by a strobe control circuit (not shown) provided in 30.

Next, a case of stroboscopic photography using the camera according to this embodiment will be described.

When the subject is photographed by holding the camera 1 in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 1A, the upper portion of the camera body 30 (the surface on which the shutter release button 3 is provided is located above). The light emitting device 10 is positioned with respect to the camera body 30 so that both the case is the upper side and the upper part of the light emitting device 10 (the upper side is the case where the strobe 7 is above). In this case, as shown in FIG.
The convex portion 17 of the concave portion 35A of the positioning plate 34 enters the concave portion 35A. FIG.
When the shutter release button 3 is pressed when the flash 7 is ready to fire in the state shown in (A),
The strobe 7 emits light and the subject is irradiated with light through the strobe lens 8. It is possible to obtain sufficient illuminance even for a dark subject. The light from the strobe 7 illuminates the subject from above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shadow of the subject from forming in the horizontal direction. The effect of shading can be reduced from the image reproduced based on the video signal obtained from the CCD 5. It goes without saying that the video signal output from the CCD 5 upon shooting is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card.

When the subject is photographed with the camera 1 held vertically, the camera body 30 is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A with respect to the light emitting device 10 in the state shown in FIG. 10 in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction with respect to the camera body 30
It may be turned 90 degrees). As a result, the convex portion 17 of the circular plate 18 comes out of the concave portion 35A of the positioning plate 34, and the convex portion 17 of the circular plate 18 enters the concave portion 35B of the positioning plate 34 as shown in FIG. To be done. The state at this time is the state shown in FIG.

Even when the camera 1 is held vertically as shown in FIG. 1B, the light emitting portion (strobe 7, strobe lens 8) of the light emitting device 10 is located above. Therefore, when the camera 1 is held vertically and a dark subject is illuminated with strobe light, the light from the strobe 7 illuminates the subject from above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shadow of the subject from forming in the horizontal direction. Even when the camera 1 is held vertically and a subject is photographed, the influence of shading can be reduced from the image reproduced based on the video signal obtained from the CCD 5.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when the camera 1 is held laterally and the light emitting device 10 is also set up, a stopper 37A formed on a positioning plate 34 of the camera body 30 and a disc 18 of the light emitting device 10 are formed. The side surface of the protruding portion 17 thus abutted makes contact (see FIG. 3 (A)). As shown in FIG. 1B, when the camera 1 is held laterally and the light emitting device 10 is also set up, it is formed on the stopper 37B formed on the positioning plate 34 of the camera body 30 and the disc 18 of the light emitting device 10. The side surface of the protruding portion 17 contacts (see FIG. 3 (B)). Since the stopper 37A or 37B abuts according to the movement of the light emitting device 10 and the camera body 30, the rotational movement of the light emitting device 10 is restricted.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment and is a perspective view of a camera.

The camera 2 shown in FIG. 4 has strobe devices 40A and 40A on the upper side and the right side, respectively, when viewed from the front.
B is provided. These strobe devices 40A and
40B is removable from the camera 2.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the strobe devices 40A and 40B are detached from the camera 2.

An opening 61A is formed in the upper portion of the camera 2. A terminal 62A is formed on the rear surface of the opening 61A. A recess 63A is formed on the side wall 64A of the opening 61A.

The strobe device 40A includes a strobe discharge tube (not shown). A strobe lens 41A for diffusing strobe light from a strobe discharge tube is provided on the front surface of the strobe device 40A. Strobe device 40A
A terminal 46A is formed on the rear surface. Strobe device 40
A recess 42A is formed on the side surface of A. A leaf spring 43A is formed on the side surface of the strobe device 40A. A convex portion 45A is formed on the leaf spring 43A. The leaf spring 43A has a force acting outward, and when the force is applied from the outside, the leaf spring 43A enters the recess 42A.

An opening 61B is also formed on the right side of the camera 2. A terminal 62B is formed on the rear surface of the opening 61B, and a recess 63B is formed on the side wall 65B.

The strobe device 40B also includes a strobe discharge tube (not shown), and a strobe lens 41B is provided on the front surface. A terminal 46B is provided on the rear surface of the strobe device 40B.
Are formed on the side surface (top and bottom surfaces in FIG. 4).
A recess 42B is formed in the recess. A leaf spring 43B having a convex portion 45B is formed on the side surface of the strobe device 40B.

The strobe device 40A enters the opening 61A, and the strobe device 40B enters the opening 62.

The surface of the leaf spring 43A of the strobe device 40A is open.
The strobe device 40A is opened along the side wall 64A of the 61A.
When inserted into 61A, the side wall 64A pushes the leaf spring 43A inward. When the strobe device 40A is further inserted into the opening 61A, the convex portion 45A and the concave portion 63A face each other, and the concave portion
The convex portion 45A enters into 63A and engages. At this time, terminal 62
A and terminal 46A are in contact, strobe device 40A and camera body
And 60 are electrically connected.

Similarly, when the strobe device 40B is inserted into the opening 61B, the convex portion 45B and the concave portion 63B are engaged with each other, and the strobe device 40B is held by the camera body 60. Also terminal 46B
The terminal 62B is in contact with the strobe device 40A and the camera body 60.
Are electrically connected.

The strobe device 40 mounted on the camera body 60
The tip portion of the leaf spring 43A or 43B is pinched so that when the A or 40B is removed from the camera body 60, a force is applied to the leaf spring 43A or 43B inward. This disengages the convex portion 45A from the concave portion 63A or the convex portion 45B and the concave portion 65B. The strobe device 40A or 40B is removed from the camera body 60 by pulling out the strobe device 40A or 40B in the disengaged state.

The camera body 60 is provided with a slide switch 66. The slide switch 66 is the camera body 60
This is a switch for selecting the strobe device to be emitted from the strobe devices 40A and 40B mounted on the. Camera 2
When holding the camera in the horizontal direction to shoot a subject with a flash, the flash unit 40A mounted on the top of the camera body 60 is operated so that the light is emitted, and when holding the camera 2 in the vertical direction and shooting a subject with a flash. The strobe device 40B mounted on the right side of the camera body 60 is operated so as to emit light. It goes without saying that the strobe control circuit (not shown) controls the light emission of the strobe devices 40A and 40B according to the switch operation of the slide switch 66.

In the camera shown in FIG. 4 as well, when the camera is held in the horizontal direction, the strobe is illuminated so as to illuminate the subject from above, and when the camera is held in the vertical direction, the subject is illuminated from above. The strobe can be fired. You can prevent shadows from forming in the horizontal direction of the subject,
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of shading even when the subject is photographed using the CCD.

In the camera shown in FIG. 4, two strobe devices 40A and 40B are attached to the openings 61A and 61B, but one strobe device 40A or 40B is attached to the opening 61A or 61B. You may do it. In this case, the mounting position of the strobe device will change depending on the direction in which the camera 2 is held.

Further, the slide switch 66 is not always necessary, and the strobe device mounted on the camera 60 may be in a state capable of emitting light.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment and is a perspective view of a camera.

In FIG. 5, the same parts as those shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the camera 2 shown in FIG. 4, the strobe devices 40A and 40B can be removed from the camera body 60, whereas in the camera 2A shown in FIG. 5, the strobe devices 48A and 48B are provided.
B are fixed to the upper portion and the right side portion of the camera 2A, respectively. Even in the camera 2A shown in FIG. 5, the light emission control of the strobe device 48A or 48B is performed by the slide switch 66.
It is performed by Also in the camera 2A shown in FIG. 5, the strobe device 48A above the camera body 60A emits light when the camera 2A is held horizontally and the strobe shooting is performed, and when the camera 2A is held vertically and the strobe shooting is performed, the camera body 60A is on the right side. The slide switch 66 is operated so that the strobe device 48B at one side emits light.

Also in the camera 2A shown in FIG. 5, regardless of the direction in which the camera 2A is set, it is possible to illuminate the subject with stroboscopic light from above and take an image, and it is possible to prevent shadows from forming in the lateral direction. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of shading even when the subject is photographed using the CCD.

In the camera 2A shown in FIG. 5, the slide switch 66 is operated according to the direction in which the camera is set,
Although the strobe light illuminates the subject from above, the strobe device may automatically determine the direction in which the camera is set and control the light emission of the strobe device according to the direction. In this case, the angle detection device is the camera body 60 or 60.
It will be provided inside A.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front view and a plan view showing an example of the angle measuring device, respectively.

The insulating substrate 70, the insulating plates 71 and 72, and the insulating weight 75 are made of an insulating member that does not conduct electricity.
The insulating substrate 70 is fixed inside the camera so as to be parallel to the horizontal scanning direction of the imaging device. Insulation plates 71 and 72
Are fixed vertically to the insulating substrate 70. A spring 73 is attached to the insulating plate 71, and a spring 74 is attached to the insulating plate 72. Both ends of the rod-shaped resistor 78 are attached to the insulating plates 71 and 72, respectively.

Both ends of the insulating weight 75 mounted on the substrate 70 are supported by springs 73 and 74, respectively.
When the substrate 70 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane, that is, when the horizontal direction of the camera is kept horizontal to the horizontal plane, the insulating weight 75 is held at a position (center portion) approximately equidistant from the insulating plates 71 and 72. .

A conductive terminal 76 is attached to the insulating weight 75. The rod-shaped resistor 78 is inserted through the conductive terminal 76,
It is electrically connected to the conductive terminal 76. The conductive terminal 76 is free to move left and right while maintaining electrical connection with the rod-shaped resistor 78 as the insulating weight 75 moves left and right. The one end A of the rod-shaped resistor 78 and the conductive terminal 76 are connected to the angle calculation circuit 77 by the conductive cord 80.
And 79 respectively electrically connected.

When the horizontal direction of the camera is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, this angle measuring device is also tilted with respect to the horizontal plane as shown in FIG. 6 (C). As a result, the insulating weight 75 and the conductive terminal 76 are moved from the center to the left (or right).
As a result, the value of the length L changes, and the resistance value between the conductive terminal 76 and the one end A of the rod-shaped resistor 78 changes. The angle calculation circuit 77 obtains the tilt angle based on the resistance value. The obtained tilt angle is associated with the captured image data as angle data and written in the image file. The angle data is, for example, 0 degree when the horizontal direction of the camera is horizontal, and when the horizontal direction is vertical to the horizontal plane.
90 degrees (insulation weight moved to the left) or -90 degrees (insulation weight moved to the right).

The signal representing the angle calculated by the angle calculation circuit 77 is given to the strobe light emission control circuit (not shown). The direction in which the camera is held is determined based on the detected angle, and the strobe light emission control circuit controls the light emission of the strobe device that illuminates the subject from above.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart in the case where the direction in which the camera is held is automatically judged, the strobe device to emit light is selected according to the direction, and shooting is performed under strobe light emission.

The process shown in FIG. 7 is started when the power switch (not shown) of the camera is turned on.

First, the angle detection device provided in the camera 2A detects whether the camera 2A is held vertically or horizontally (step 90).

When it is held in the horizontal direction (step 9
1) The strobe device that can emit light from above the subject is the strobe device 48A.
48A light emission preparation (charging, etc.) is performed (step 9).
2). When the shutter release button 3 is pressed within a fixed time (YES in step 93), the strobe device 40A emits light and the subject is photographed (step 94). Since the strobe light illuminates the subject from above, no horizontal shadow is produced and shading can be prevented in advance. If the shutter release button 3 is not pressed within the fixed time (NO in step 93), it is determined whether or not the direction in which the camera 2A is set has changed (step 95). If there is no change, the determination in step 93 is repeated (step 95
If NO, step 91 to 93 are repeated (YES at step 95).

When the angle detecting device determines that the camera 2A is held vertically (step 91), the strobe device 40B provided on the right side of the camera 2A prepares to emit light (step 96). ). If the shutter release button 3 is pressed within a fixed time, the flash unit 40B
Lights up and the subject is photographed under flash light (steps 97, 98). When the camera 2A is held vertically, the strobe device 48B on the side of the camera 2A is positioned above or below the subject. Therefore, when the strobe device 48B emits light, the subject is illuminated from above or below, and the shadow of the subject can be prevented from occurring in the lateral direction. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of shading.

[Brief description of the drawings]

[FIG. 1] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state of a flash firing with the camera held horizontally, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state of a flash firing with the camera held vertically. It is a figure.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

3A is a sectional view taken along line III A-III A in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line III B-III B in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a camera according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a camera according to still another embodiment.

6 (A), (B), and (C) show angle detection devices.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for selecting a strobe device to emit light depending on the direction in which the camera is held.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 CCD 7 Strobe discharge tube 10 Light emitting device 18 Disc 20 Mirror body 22 Imaging lens 30, 60, 60A Camera body 34 Positioning plate 40A, 40B, 48A, 48B Strobe device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera body including an image pickup unit having different lengths in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, the image pickup unit picking up an image of a subject and recording the image of the subject, and the subject being rotatably attached to the camera body. And an illumination device for illuminating an object, the illumination device for illuminating a subject from at least one of an upper side and a lower side regardless of whether the camera body is held in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. A positioning mechanism for positioning the above at a position corresponding to the front upper portion, front lower portion or front side portion of the camera body,
With a camera. 2. An image pickup unit having different horizontal and vertical lengths, the image pickup unit being provided with an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and recording the subject image. An illuminating device positioned at the front upper portion or front lower portion and front side portion of the camera body so as to illuminate the subject from at least one of the upper side and the lower side when held vertically. And a light emission control means for causing one of the lighting devices positioned at the front upper part or the front lower part and the front side part of the camera body to emit light in accordance with a command. 3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device positioned on the front upper portion, the front lower portion and the front side portion is removable from the camera body. 4. A detection means for detecting whether the camera body is held horizontally or vertically, wherein the light emission control means holds the camera body horizontally by the detection means. In response to detecting that the camera body is held vertically, the lighting device positioned in the upper front portion or the lower front portion is caused to emit light, and it is detected that the camera body is held vertically. The camera according to claim 2, which responds by causing the illuminating device positioned on the front side portion to emit light.